-3 watt Luxeon™ Star Power Light Source
-85 lumens-Brightest LED Bike Light Available!
-10,000 Hour LED Life
-Mv Current Regulation-Constant Light Output
-Low Battery Warning / Auto Shut-Off
-Rechargeable NiMH Battery
-Custom Integrated DT/dt Fast Charger
Submitted by
alex t
a Cross Country Rider
from l.a. Date Reviewed: January 30, 2009
Favorite Trail:
sm mtb range
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
quick charge, no battery pack to have to mount (built in), different settings are cool (blink/ 1 watt mode last for 3 hrs plus), looks, can plug it in to charge and forget about it--wont hurt it--quickest charge in the west
Weaknesses:
bobs a lot on off-road (would be a decent bar light in combo with stella on the helmet) BOMBPROOF!! Fell off, ching, ching, ching ching...hit by car...ching...bashed into the curb...works perfect (crashed it again--ching..ching...down the hill...works PERFECT!)
Similar Products Used:
all cheap crappola cateyes, viewpoints, etc. and then a trail rat (whose battery lasted for a couple years then it started losing life after 30-40 min took forever to charge)
Bike Setup:
old trek 990 (still going) cyclo style, 700s, all xtr everything 8 sp, manitou skareb
Bottom Line:
This is probably the best commuting light that I have found. The thing charges up in like an hour and half, lasts pretty long (the other night I had forgot to charge--started blinking and still lasted like another hour on blink/low!!), mount it and forget it. Not that hard to get on/off (come on you sissys) and up/ down adjustment I have done on the fly literally on the trail (have to loosen the "quick release" knob just enough to turn it up/down then tighten back...if skilled takes about 20 sec--but dont try to adjust up/down with it tight because I broke the brass fitting on the inside of it off when I first got it...but CUSTOMER SERVICE ROCKED--NO QUES--JUST SENT ME A WHOLE NEW HOUSING--BY WAY TO GET TO THE BATTERY IT IS REVERSE THREAD, DONT ASK ME WHY BUT MAKES A NICE SECURITY FEATURE...SOME SH%TBAG CANT UNSCREW YOUR LIGHT IF HE DOESNT KNOW THAT...
NOT A RACE LIGHT FOR YOU XC/DH night riders...maybe get away with it on the bars, but i use at night on familiar trails and I like it fine but on UN-familiar trails, might wanna slow down a little (bouncy...drive your eyes a little crazy)
HANDS DOWN TOUGHEST LIGHT I HAVE USED (havent tried turbo cats...heard they are bombproof as well but $$$$)
you can talk these down/ find online cheap/ get it at closeout
IT IS 4 WATTS/ 2 WATTS / 1 WATT / BLINKING why you guys put its a "3 Watt" is beyond me
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
TwoWheelinTim
a Cross Country Rider
from Humboldt County, CA Date Reviewed: November 24, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$165.00
Purchased At:
Local bike shop
Strengths:
Lightweight, compact, durable metal casing, integrated battery/no cords or wires, rechargeable, bright enough for commuting, three light levels and flash mode, outstanding customer support from light & motion.
Weaknesses:
Not bright enough for serious offroad night riding. Integrated battery cannot be changed out by user. When the battery wears out, the light must be returned to the manufacturer for battery replacement. A bit on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
full rigid cannondale mtb set up for commuting.
Bottom Line:
This is a great light for commuting. The flash mode really gets the attention of motorists. I like that I can take it off the bike quickly and easily when I park at my destination.
I don't feel it would be sufficient for full speed off road night riding. It's compact and light enough to stuff in your camelback so it would make a good back-up light in case your main light fails or your batteries die.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rider123456
a Racer
from Brooklyn, NY USA Date Reviewed: August 24, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Strengths:
This is a commuter light. I use this here in NYC and is much better than the best Cateye lights which I eventually break. Easy to plug in and recharge and very well built. People can see me coming halfway down the block.
Weaknesses:
The mounting hardware is not that advanced and a little harder to take off and on than a Cateye. Its heavy. Some people might think its expensive but there is no price on safety.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye, Planet Bike
Bike Setup:
Serotta (what else)
Bottom Line:
Best commuter light out there, its made in the USA of solid aluminum, I can put it in my pocket and recharge so no more wondering if my batteries are dead.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rockett
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary Canada Date Reviewed: July 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Race of Spades - Moose Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$189.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Shop
Strengths:
relatively light - Easy to use and mount. Quick charge; fairly long battery life compared to other lights
Weaknesses:
Not a good product for dark nights on the trail. A commutter light at best. I did the 24 hours of adrenalin in Canmore AB this past weekend and was terribly disappointed in this light.
Similar Products Used:
none - this is my first light
Bike Setup:
2006 Giant Reign; Shimano XT drivetrain and cranks; Fox RP3 rear and Fox 32 vanilla R front.
Bottom Line:
I like this light because of the easy to use part and the fact that there's no external battery pack. However, the light under performed when it came to its actual function - TO LUMINATE THE TRAIL IN FRONT OF YOU!! As I mentioned in the "product weakness" - this would be fine as a commutter light for around town or some light evening trail riding but it is a terrible light for dark rainy nights in the mountains.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bonzo2007
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago Date Reviewed: July 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Lakeshore to Milwaukee
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Very good build quality, simple setup, fast charging, smart battery, no external battery pack, nice switch, good for commuters looking to upgrade.
Weaknesses:
Not bright enough for night rides on dark roads. Weak throw. Slow strobe. Mounting bracket.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider MiNewt X2 Dual
Bike Setup:
Giant TCR-1 Ultegra
Bottom Line:
I returned the L&M for the Niterider. For a $60 premium, I'm much happier.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a
from McLean, VA, USA Date Reviewed: December 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$115.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
The light is pretty bright and hassle free. I like it's different modes, especially the blinking. Its construction seem bomb proof. I like how you can leave the charger plugged in and that it takes only two hours to charge.
Weaknesses:
The light is hard to remove from the bar mount.
Bike Setup:
Commute on a mtn bike with slicks on major roadways and trails in the Washington D.C. area.
Bottom Line:
I like it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Gibbs
a
from Sydney, Australia Date Reviewed: November 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$175.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
No wires, no cumbersome battery packs, lightweight and really simple to use. Excellent charging system, again very simple and a fast 1-1.5hr charge time.
Weaknesses:
Not suitable for offroad use where helmet mounted lights are probably a better option anyway
Similar Products Used:
Cateye lights for many years - simply inadequate illumination.
Bike Setup:
Flat bar roadie w/ panniers for inner city commuting.
Bottom Line:
Great unit for urban commuting at night. Strong enough to see the road ahead at a speed of 10 mph. In flash mode I never had an oncoming motorist who didn't see me coming.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Powell
a Weekend Warrior
from Walla Walla, WA, USA Date Reviewed: August 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Harris Park, OR
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$111.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
1)Bright, 2)Multiple power settings - including blink, 3) good runtime, 4)solid feel, 5)good power hole plug for water resistance. 6)double-click turn-on, 7)Price
Weaknesses:
1) Ball retainer in handlebar clip/mount is hard to release to remove light, you almost seem like you are going to break the light, 2)Slightly narrower beam than I expected, 3)Label Residue/staining on top of light from instruction label location 4)Side to side turns too easy and up-down hard to change
Similar Products Used:
Cygolite Night Rover, at least a dozen Bell plastic ones, Cateye HL-550
Bike Setup:
Specialized Rockhopper Comp w/Saint components
Bottom Line:
MTBR description is wrong. . . it is a 4-watt LED. Excellent light. Very bright, lights trail well, although for unfamiliar trails I would recommend two lights (still cheaper than less-bright alternatives,) which would give some more depth to what you are seeing. I would recommend this light to anyone. Suggestions to manufacturer: 1) Re-think the mount--it's nearly impossible to adjust up and down when tight, and removing the light for security is very stressful as you always are afraid you are going to break the mount or the breakaway disc. 2) Make the battery replaceable or substitutable with standard alkaline/etc batteries. If you forget to charge you are screwed, instead of being able to throw some disposable batteries in for that trip.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rosti
a
from Santa Monica Date Reviewed: June 26, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
Helens Cycles Santa Monica
Strengths:
Self-contained battery and light unit
Weaknesses:
Hard to dismount light unit from quick mount (handlebar)
Similar Products Used:
too many lights to list
Bike Setup:
Road commuter
Bottom Line:
Works excellent as a commuter light. I would not take this offroad, it's not bright enough. Charge times stand up to factory claims. It simply works like a charm. I have gone for weeks without charging up the light. Other lights are out now that are on par or better, like the Niterider MiNewt setup, but those require a separate battery which can be bothersome if you commute and routinely have to remove your accessories when you lock up your bike in public. This is where the Vega shines, just one item to pop off and stash in your messenger bag. Ironically tho, my props to this feature also leads to a con: the quick release ain't so quick. It takes a good amount of force to slide the light unite off of the handlebar quick mount. Build quality is excellent and so is customer service. A 3-rating for value because there are more options nowadays and this light is no longer the solo player in high end LEDs. That said, it get 4 chillis overall. I would give it 5 if the quick mount was truly quick.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Clara, CA Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Sawpit
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Light Weight Durability Frees up the water bottle cage Beam color
Weaknesses:
Not enough to be the only light offroad
Similar Products Used:
Nitesun halogen system (for 10+ years) Custom made LED system A couple of cheap setups
Bottom Line:
I reviewed this light shortly after I got it, and after 2 years, several wrecks, lots of use offroad and for commuting, I thought I'd give a follow-up. Nothing has broken on it (I keep my bar mount loose so it spins when I crash), runtimes may be down slightly, but not too bad. I've relied on it several times as my only light at Demo - I have to ride slow, but I can ride. Great for the climbs in and out. After my first review, Light and Motion contacted me quickly and provided rapid response to my questions. For what it is, I'm very happy with it. As the LED technology continues to develop, maybe they'll be able to overhaul my light with a new LED and new batteries..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Francois Pepin
a Downhiller
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: November 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Braille
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Gift
Strengths:
Great color, super bright, great runtime, smart charger, 4 power output levels, self-contained
Similar Products Used:
Performance ViewPoint Single
Bike Setup:
2005 Specialized SX Trail
Bottom Line:
This light is amazing. I've had to rely on it a few times as my only light for descending Demo Forest trails as well as some other local trails. This light is bright enough to allow decent speeds and allows me to attack steep, technical single track. While I prefer to match any bar-mount light with a helmet mount, I'm very comfortable riding with this as my only light.
It's tough to use this light on a fire-road because it's a bar mount and doesn't light up the entire road width. I tend to miss the "features" that are found on the sides of fire-roads.
Fast and intelligent charger helps protect battery, as does the low power notification and auto-shut off. This light has hit the ground a few times in crashes, and it has held up great. The swivel "tension" is adjustable with one screw, and the sliding mechanism holds the light in place quite well. Even through roots, rocks, drops and jumps, the light holds its position so I can keep riding without readjusting.
4 Chilis for value as it is expensive, 5 overall because it's nothing short of amazing and worth the $$
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
El
a Cross Country Rider
from Seed Date Reviewed: October 28, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
- Super bright (for an LED) - Nice even beam - All-in-on compact design - Top notch build quality
Weaknesses:
- Takes alot of force to remove from bar mount - No up/down tilt (only side to side swivel)
Similar Products Used:
Nothing in this category (super brite LED). Just a bunch of smaller 3 light LED blinkers then a gloriosly bright Niterider Blowtorch HID.
Bottom Line:
Light & Motion is top notch in their execution of lights, everything seems thoroughly thoughtout and designed. Coming from a Niterider HID light that finally died and was too expensive to keep up, I wanted to try a Luxeon powered LED unit after reading the good reviews in the press and online on lights like the Vega and the Dinotte. I went with L&M because I has regretted buying the Niterider over the Arc HID. The Vega surprised me with it's brightness. It is not a replacement for HID, so do not expect that. It's a commuter light that is powerful to be seen and light your way. I like the flexibility of changing from the stronger 4watt setting to see on dark roads, to the blinker for lit roads. All in an instant click. HID has been too bothersome for commuting with all the cords and batteries. Don't be mislead by the photos of the Vega's beam pattern. No photo I have seen has done justice to the Vega's bright beam, all photos make the beam seem narrower than reality. This is an ideal commuter light. It's an offroad light IMO. I think it might be possible to use offroad if you are riding a trail you are very familar with, then there are no surprises.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dwight Kellams
a
from Fishers, IN Date Reviewed: October 10, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$179.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Garage Indy North
Strengths:
Very bright light. My buddy was impressed and raved about the visibility and said that I made a good purchase. He finished a little ahead of me and rode back to see how it looked. I had it in flash mode and he said that I was more visible than the car that pulled up behind me with it's headlights on. This was at dusk on a cloudy night. Very clean install on the bike. I just leave it on and charge it on the bike. Manager at LBS had been using his for two years and liked it.
Weaknesses:
None that I have experienced.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
Serotta Fierte Steel.
Bottom Line:
Excellent value for the price point.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joseph c.
a Cross Country Rider
from san diego,ca.u.s.a. Date Reviewed: September 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
lake morena
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
very very durable,versatile,self contained unit
Weaknesses:
THE MOUNT!
Similar Products Used:
light & motion arc
Bike Setup:
titus racer x, sram, race face.
Bottom Line:
this has to be one of the most versatile and durable lights i have ever used. the durability can be validated by the fact that it has fallen of my bike 4 times. this all took place on road rides at about 25 to 30 mph. the main cause can be traced to the handle bar mount, just to weak for the weight of the light when the front wheel encounters rough ground. i did not give up on the light because of its quality, instead i mounted it to my nite rider handlebar mount. it was a match made in heaven, but it will take a little work on your part. with the nite rider mount i can even adjust the light on the fly and have used the light as my handle bar light on our 24 hour races. just a tip on mounting the light, i found that if you use a thin rubber pad right under the light, it keeps it stable and still adjustable. you will need a larger washer under the nite rider mount or do what i did, gouge out some of the plastic to make the original hardware fit. this was done with the original nite rider handlebar mount, i have not seen the newer mount.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Patterson
a Cross Country Rider
from Klamath Falls Date Reviewed: September 3, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Brown Mountain
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
I purchased this light for street use only and it has yet to fail me. Very bright, and the beam angle is perfect. This light is bright enough that I don't worry about how fast I ride, sometimes speeds as high as 45 mpg. Mounting is easy; charging even easier, battery life excellent. I use the two watt setting when on flat ground and it lasts 3-4 hours. The strobe is excellent for getting attention in lit areas at night. It is light weight with no battery pack and cables.
Weaknesses:
The light swivals pretty easilly, which would be somewhat of a pain for trail riding, but like I said, I didn't buy this light for trail riding. I have yet to find any real weaknesses with this light that would affect my riding.
Similar Products Used:
BLT with a bottle battery pack I use with my Kona
Bike Setup:
Bianchi Veloce
Bottom Line:
I have a lot of friends that do nothing but complain about the light setups they have. For me, this is the best thing going for street use, and I recommend it highly. The price is excellent, even at the $170 MSRP. I doubt that there is anything better on the market in this price range.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pete
a Weekend Warrior
from bristol UK Date Reviewed: June 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
picnic bench !!!!
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At:
local shop
Strengths:
much brighter than your average shoddy halogen or LED light. a great commute light, and the light unit itself is very sturdy. good charging system
Weaknesses:
like a lot of people have said here, the mounting design is very flawed. i used it offroad once and its just about bright enough, but the bracket makes the whole thing top-heavy, and it wasn't long before it became wobbly. maybe its not designed for off road but even on the road i think this would happen eventually
then one day the light unit pulled OFF from the bracket as i tried to fit it. shortly after it flew off the bars and hit the road at about 30 mph. its scratched to hell but still works! now its held together with glue - so much for the fail-safe design
Similar Products Used:
countless cheapo LED lights (cat-eyes etc) which have long since disintegrated
Bottom Line:
ok its a great light, but treat it nice. be extra careful with the bracket and no off roading please!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aussie the dingo
a
from Sydney Date Reviewed: May 16, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
compact size, no cables, quick recharge time, impressive quality
Weaknesses:
kind of expensive, handlebar mount, could have the beam a bit wider beam
Similar Products Used:
just too many to list
Bike Setup:
whatever
Bottom Line:
Great light for the commuting cyclist, although more suitable for someone who uses roads rather than trails. The beam might be a bit too narrow for trails, but it would work just fine as handlebar light to complement your more powerful helmet mounted light. If you're looking for a compact yet powerful backup light that can get you home, then you must have this one. This little wonder WILL actually get you home (unlike some other LED's). The built quality is impressive -- very solid. The light beam is nice and solid, no scattered patchy spots. It throws the beam far enough so that you won't outpace it even on a road bike (that is unless you're doing 30+ mph). My only complain would be about that handlebar mount. It is not that easy to dismount the unit; your fingers will hurt for a while. Overall top product, although I see it as a bit expensive-ish.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
D
a
from California Date Reviewed: May 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$115.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Lots of light for such a small package. No external battery to deal with. If you're commuting, everyone will see you coming if you set it on blink.
Weaknesses:
I haven't had any problems with the mount so far, but it's so small that I'm paranoid that it will fall off one day without me noticing. I guess I should just unmount it if it's not dark enough to need a light.
Bottom Line:
It looks good, has no wires to get tangled, its somewhat inexpensive, and it puts out a good amount of light, but not really suitable to use as a primary light offroad.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Gravel
a
from Delmar, NY Date Reviewed: May 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Bottom Line:
An update to my previous review, and the issues this light caused with my HRM - at L&M's request (speedy reply to my email, by the way), I replaced my HRM and computer batteries, but unfortunately this did not help.
I ended up buying the DiNotte Ultralight, which did not have the EMI issues, and so far seems to be fine with my HRM. DiNotte says they've picked up a few customers over this issue. The Ultralight is more expensive, but if it is the right thing, that's worth it to me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Gravel
a Cross Country Rider
from Delmar, NY, USA Date Reviewed: April 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$145.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Bright enough for road use, simple design, simple charging
Weaknesses:
Interferes with my HRM!
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
DIY road bike - Ultegra and DA 10 components, DT Swiss wheels, PowerTap SL
Bottom Line:
I use this thing on the road. Because of this, I don't think I beat on the mounting setup as hard as some others here, and I've had no trouble. Also, for the road, the narrow beam seems fine. Setup and charging are pretty easy. Cannot over charge, which is nice. Plenty bright for me.
The one thing I would add to what's been said here is that when the light is on, it interferes with the transmission from my HRM chest strap to my PowerTap SL computer. I get no data at all for heart rate until the light goes off. I have an email into L&M tech support, and I am going to try another strap to see if that helps, but with the handlebar-only mount, I am not sure where I could put this thing to get it away from the bike computer. L&M mentions this as an issue for their HID lights, but not for the Vega.
Were it not for the HRM issue, this thing would be perfect for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a
from Indianapolis Date Reviewed: March 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
local urban 30 mile rail-trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$120.00
Strengths:
Beautiful completely consistent snow white pattern, no streaks. Breathtakingly bright for such a small module, it's exciting just to turn it on! Self-contained, no external wires to a battery pack. Great mount, takes 10 seconds with no tool (easily share your spares with friends) and allows the pod to swivel and it stays in place. Will never leave you lightless because when the 15 minute-to-go warning signal starts blinking, just set the switch to "flash mode" and it will illuminate the path for several more HOURS! For extra beam width and double brightness, mount two of these 220 gram units and you're still under a pound!
Weaknesses:
I can't find any.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye Stadium 3, Cateye 1W LED models.
Bike Setup:
Three Vegas down one side of my Recumbent hi-rise handlebar. You should see the chasing pattern when they're all set on "flasher mode."
Bottom Line:
Just get some, they will make you happy, and your bike buds happy when they show up underlit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joshua Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from FPO, AP USA Date Reviewed: February 26, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
The brightness to money ratio! Flashing mode gets attention of pedestrians (I use my XC bike to comute).
Weaknesses:
Twists side to side some-what easily, but this makes breaking the mount more difficult.
Similar Products Used:
10+ $30 or less lights that I tend to brake.
Bike Setup:
Kona Caldera with Maxxis Hookworm tires and 70mm Manitou Skareb air Fork.
Bottom Line:
The best light I've seen. So good a bought a second light after breaking my first while using it as a flashlight at work.
I use it on milder trails and for comuting 5 miles to work in the mornings. The blinking feature lets people on foot know I'm comming much better then any bell.
My buddies Hope Vision is a lot brighter but he also paid $400 for it. When we hit the trails together at night my Vega provides me with more then enought light and doesn't slow me down any. My Vega also lasts a lot longer.
A little pricey by itself but well worth every penny! Its also simple and has no battery packs or cables to deal with.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: December 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Very bright, simple to use. No extraneous wires or battery packs. The blink mode is great for getting attention on a commuter bike.
Weaknesses:
The mounting system sucks. When I first got it, it was extremely difficult to get the light into and out of the mount. At the same time, it swivels from side to side way too easily. During the first week it was way tight getting it into and out of the mount. During the second week it was OK, easier to do. During the third week it spontaneously threw itself onto the ground on three separate occasions, getting all banged up in the process. After the third time, it stopped working and I had to stop and buy another light on the way home (this is on my commuter). L&M Tech Support answered my gripe email promptly, apologized, and asked me to send it to them. I did (they got it a couple days ago), and I am waiting for it to be returned. At $175 list price, this thing ought to have a mount that is at least as secure as a $20 Cateye, but it doesn't.
Disheartening to have to send it back after using it for less than a month.
The beam is very bright, but it's also very narrow and doesn't light up anything to the sides.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider Storm HID
Bike Setup:
Soma DoubleCross set up as a commuter / all-rounder.
Bottom Line:
I wouldn't buy it again. The narrow beamwidth is too narrow and the mounting system is so bad I wouldn't have bought it if I'd known.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steve
a Cross Country Rider
from salt lake city, utah, usa Date Reviewed: October 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
guthries (2100 south)
Strengths:
bright battery free
Weaknesses:
PRICEY!!!!
Similar Products Used:
Various Cat Eye lights
Bike Setup:
klein attitude xv//rm slayer70
Bottom Line:
I dig this light. I mount mine UNDER the bar left of the stem. I figure this ought to reduce the need for breakaway discs...I havn't wiped out yet with the light on so time will tell. Plus, I think it looks better. This seems to alleviate some of the problems reported with difficulty removing the thing. Applying pressure UPWARD from underneath seems to work just fine. The "tree branch" analogy earlier did make me laugh though. Minus a couple of chilis since this thing is darned pricey.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Klamath Falls, OR Date Reviewed: September 22, 2005
Perfect as a commuter light. Puts out enough light that I don't overdrive it unless I'm doing 30+ MPH. Flash mode makes you extremely visible in traffic. I'm getting about 2 1/2 hours on highest setting. Have not experienced mounting issues some have complained about, comes on and off just fine and stays on the mount. I did have to tighten the adjustment for the swivel it moved way to easily the way it was set up. It is extremely nice not to have to worry about a separate battery pack. Overall, I'm very pleased.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Johnny
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane Date Reviewed: August 1, 2005
Favorite Trail:
All of them.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Self contained, lightweight, well designed.
Weaknesses:
Awkward mounting! Light unit sits too high and is prone to move when jolted. Swivels too easily.
Similar Products Used:
Home made wing and a prayer jobs. Smart Lights. Light & Motion Cabeza and Dual Logic.
Bike Setup:
MTB, Road and Commuter.
Bottom Line:
This light is a cracker! I've been running two L&M systems for years now and have been thoroughly satisfied with the both product and my numerous dealings with this Monterey Bay company. I purchased this unit primarily for commuting duties and to supplement my Cabeza helmet light for late night road rides and have been blown away by the performance of this little light. I use the flash mode on my evening peak hour commute and EVERY driver and pedestrian within a 200 meter radius knows where I am, - the light literally rebounds of distant traffic signage and the strobe effect half blinds all those poor saps sitting in lines of stationary traffic.
As much as I love this light it does have weaknesses in the mounting department. L&M have used their standard handlebar mount which works fine on their other lights but which doesn't do the Vega justice. Basically, the light unit sits too high on the bar which makes it unstable and prone to unwanted movement. This problem seriously limits the light's potential for off road use - you'd go batty from realigning the unit after every second bump. It's a pity, as this light makes a great supplement to a good helmet unit. As for removing the unit, the previous posting which described the process as akin to "tearing off a tree branch" couldn't have put it better.
Yet despite the mounting problems, I'm still going to give this fabulous little light 5 Flamers. It's seriously good!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Randyp
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine, CA Date Reviewed: July 26, 2005
Definitely not a replacement for your HID setup. No helmet mount available. Self-contained battery means that you need two or more complete lights for long-distance work.
Similar Products Used:
Nite Rider HID, CatEye
Bike Setup:
SC Blur, XT/SRAM X-0, Fox F100, Avid discs, WTB Laser Disc Lite/Mavic XC717 with Stan's.
Bottom Line:
A great bar mount light to supplement your helmet mount HID when doing 24-hour solos. Saves 2 pounds of battery weight and gives you good useable light. I usually use it for the climbs and turn the helmet light off to save battery life. That way, I can go 6 hours on a single charge, so 2 HID batteries get me through the night.
I use it as the primary source of light during early AM training rides in the dark on the road bike. In FL where I spend a lot of my time, roads are flat and speeds are low. You can easily over-drive the light at speeds in excess of 30, so fast downhill riding is not advised.
Not had any mounting or dismounting issues to date and I've hammered the bike on a lot of different race courses. It's a bit pricey but works as promised.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Grant
a Racer
from Hamilton Date Reviewed: July 26, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Compact,battery life,bright enough for an LED.
Weaknesses:
Swivels a bit too easy, will not stay on the bars.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider,Cateye
Bike Setup:
Use it mainly on my road bike.
Bottom Line:
A great idea of a rechargable unit with no battery pack. I bought this to run mainly on my road bike, but I dare not put it on my MTB.It will not stay on the bars of a road bike. I can't figure it out when you want to remove it. it takes some force, but you can ride along for a couple of hours no problem then it takes it into its mind to leap into the road like its on a suicide mission. I waited months on back order and now the unit looks very second hand, the good thing it is tough it keeps working after going down the road half a dozen times. Light and motion sent another breakaway disc mount but that is not the problem, it just needs a more secure mounting method.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john lyons
a
from Portland, OR Date Reviewed: July 9, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Bottom Line:
The light is compact, lightweight, very bright, easy to use and recharge, and requires recharging very infrequently. It is an ideal commuter light. Also, the Light&Motion folks were very helpful and responsive when I had a small problem with the mounting hardware.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Otterson
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA, USA Date Reviewed: June 1, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Palisades
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
covered in previous review
Weaknesses:
In my previous review, I mentioned the mount stiffness and weakness. I emailed Vega to ask about it, and they sent me a new one. It's less stiff and they've gotten rid of the breakaway disk. It's better, but still not as good as the mounts on cheap lights. Anyway, I'm impressed at how fast they sent me the new part.
Bottom Line:
Nice light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Falls Church, VA Date Reviewed: May 23, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Moore Fun
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Compact, light weight, brightness, run time
Weaknesses:
power switch isn't sealed well, handlebar mount
Similar Products Used:
Lume Strada HID headlight, NiteRider Evolution,
Bike Setup:
Karate Monkey single speed or Karate Monkey geared, both with rigid fork.
Bottom Line:
I use a handlebar light to supplement a head light for serious xc trail riding at night. The bar light is used to lay down shadows at a low angle to help give you depth perception.
The Vega works perfectly for this. On the low setting, it had enough power to lay down good shadows in the woods. It also had enough duration to last the entire night while racing solo at the most recent 12 hour race.
I usually try and run my handlebar light below the bars to get a lower angle on the trail and get more shadows. In the rain, that lets water right into the power switch. The rubber seals don't appear to do anything. Once the switch dried out, it worked fine. I now wrap the end in duct tape before I hit the trail. That has sealed it well.
I haven't had the problems that others described with the Vega's mounting hardware. I don't like that it is so easy to twist the light from side to side. Since I don't use suspension, I'm afraid that it will twist in really rough sections. I'm probably going to re-engineer the mounting and make something that works a little better.
This would make a pretty good emergency light for the times that you get stuck out on the trail and need a light to get you home.
If you need a handlebar light to supplement your head light, this is a GREAT choice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fredrick Sykes
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwalk, Ca. Date Reviewed: May 18, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Road
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Performancebike
Strengths:
The body of the light is very tough. I had a crash and the light is still working with a crack in the body and scratches from the asphalt.
Weaknesses:
The weak point is the bracket that screws into the under side of the light. In my crash my Carbon fiber handlebar broke and my light hit the asphalt whereby the bracket under the light broke and this caused the light to separate from the bar.
Similar Products Used:
LaserviewPoint by Performancebike, which is no longer available.
Bike Setup:
Litespeed Ultimate 2002 Road bike.
Bottom Line:
The vega is one tough light. Crashed onto asphalt and run over by a car and the light still turns on to light your way!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Otterson
a Weekend Warrior
from seattle Date Reviewed: May 15, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Palisades
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$119.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
A light as bright and long lasting as some water bottle battery lights, without the water bottle battery.
Weaknesses:
Ridiculously stiff handlebar mount combined with ridiculously weak breakaway disks -- sliding the light off the handlebar mount is like trying to tear off a tree branch. Within a week, I broke the breakways disks (and the light came without the promised spare disks).
Similar Products Used:
Cygolite Rover, Nightsun Commuter, Performance something or other
Bike Setup:
Redline Disk-R
Bottom Line:
Very bright and small. But very expensive (if you pay full price) and with a very poor handlebar mount.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: March 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Sawpit
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Light weight and no wires Frees up a water bottle cage nice white beam Is great for riding in on the fireroad long life, high impact resistance of LED
Weaknesses:
narrow beam not bright enough to be your only light questionable customer service price
Similar Products Used:
Nightsun dual beam (10 years old) Jet helmet light
Bottom Line:
I use this light to conserve my helmet light's battery for the singletrack, it works well in that use, and frees up my water bottle cage for the water bottle. Its beam is slightly narrow for my taste, even for fireroad/road use - more of what I'd prefer in a helmet light then a bar light. I only have two real rides on it so far (Sawpit and Corral at the demo forest), so can't comment on its long term durability or life.
It's lightweight and has no wires or battery pack to mess around with, but I still think it's a little overpriced. My light did not come with the extra (spare) breakaway tabs and so far L&M has not responded to my e-mail request to have them sent - they also never responded to an e-mail with a few questions on the Vega before I purchased it. I'll try calling them hopefully tomorrow..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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